The Gipuzkoa dance tradition is many-faceted and, therefore, the festivities and traditions in each neighbourhood and municipality have their own specific characteristics that set them apart from the districts and towns. Nonetheless, common features can be seen in some of the traditional Gipuzkoa dances from the 19th and 20th century. In the first half of the 19th century, Juan Ignacio Iztueta from Zaldibitarra was the first in an important line of dance masters, whose work continued for a century and a half. José Antonio Olano, José Lorenzo Pujana and Cándido Pujana, together with Juan Ignacio Iztueta himself, a chain of dance masters who went from town to town teaching their skills in Gipuzkoa for 150 years


These dance masters originating from Goierri were the main representatives of a strong and deep-rooted dance tradition, which combines academic dance methods with dance forms characteristic of popular tradition. Thanks to the contributions of those dance masters and others who, even though they did not become as famous as those great masters, did a magnificent job of transmitting their knowledge and pedagogy, the repertoire of dances was passed down to us and which are nowadays part of the common patrimony of the Gipuzkoa dantzaris.   It is precisely that set of danzas that are considered here. There are certainly some local traditions that have undergone their specific evolution, but in general terms, the set of dances considered here enjoy a high degree of homogeneity, as they are the outcome of the teachings of a handful of dance masters that went from town to town in Gipuzkoa.

Apart from this dance repertoire which can be considered as common to the Gipuzkoa dantzaris, traditional danzas with specific characteristics are also danced in numerous towns. Information is available about them in the section entitled “Local Gipuzkoa Dances”.